The Thai director of Miss Grand International issued a public apology following his altercation with Mexican contestant Fátima Bosch ahead of the Miss Universe 2025 final in Bangkok.
In a live broadcast on social media, businessman Nawat Itsaragrisil, who also heads Miss Grand International and plays a key role in organizing Miss Universe 2025, admitted that his behavior was inappropriate and apologized “to everyone who felt offended.” He added that he had already personally apologized to the more than 70 contestants who were present in the room at the time of the incident.
“If anyone felt uncomfortable or affected, I apologize. I’ve spoken with the girls and clarified what happened. My intention was never to humiliate anyone,” said the director.
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Itsaragrisil attributed his outburst to the pressure of wanting the 74th edition of Miss Universe to be “perfect and memorable,” but acknowledged that his words and tone were wrong. He also took the opportunity to criticize the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) for its absence in Thailand during the event.
“So far, no official representatives have been present. I ask that someone come to Bangkok to properly coordinate the event,” he added.
The controversy began during a meeting with the contestants, when Nawat reportedly interrupted Bosch and called her “stupid” and “empty-headed” in front of everyone — prompting the Mexican representative to leave the room, followed by several contestants in solidarity.
The video of the incident quickly went viral, sparking global backlash over the lack of respect toward the Mexican delegate.
Earlier, the Miss Universe Organization released a statement reaffirming its commitment to integrity and respect for all participants. However, Nawat’s apology has not fully calmed the outrage, as social media users continue to call for sanctions and clear protocols to prevent future incidents.